“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
– Opening of the Declaration of Independence
“Pinchas son of Elazar son of Aaron the priest has turned my venomous-anger from the Israelites in his being-zealous with my jealousy in their midst, so that I did not finish off the Israelites in my jealousy.
– Numbers 25:11
The actions of America’s Founding Fathers were deemed irrational and over-zealous by their critics and we still struggle with the zeal of Pinchas who murdered two misbehaving people and prevented much greater death and destruction in last week’s Torah reading. He received his reward in the opening of this week’s reading.
Fervor in a good cause is often excused. The enmity between Great Britain and the United States eventually evolved into common cause and friendship. The murderous Pinchas’ actions saved thousands of Israelites from God’s wrath.
Still we must consider our actions carefully. We must pursue righteous ends with righteous values. We must overcome our temptation to accept that good ends might justify sacrificing principles along the way.
Wishing everyone a good week,
Jonathan